Nigerian Muslims who intend to perform the hajj pilgrimage in 2024 will have to pay more than they did in 2023, as the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has announced a new fare of N4.9m.
The new fare, which represents a N1.9m increase from the previous year, was attributed to the unstable foreign exchange rate and the rising cost of services in Saudi Arabia.
NAHCON Chairman, Malam Jalal Arabi, said the commission had negotiated substantial discounts with service providers in Saudi Arabia to reduce the burden on the intending pilgrims, but the volatile currency situation in Nigeria made it impossible to maintain the initial deposit of N4.5m.
He said the commission had limited time to explore further options, as it faced a tight deadline of Feb. 25 to remit the funds to Saudi Arabia.
He advised intending pilgrims to balance their hajj fare by Monday, Feb. 12, to enable the commission to transfer the funds before the deadline.
He also assured the public of the commission’s commitment to ensure a smooth and successful hajj for all participants, despite the challenges posed by foreign exchange factors.
The hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam, and every able-bodied Muslim who can afford it is expected to perform it at least once in their lifetime.
The hajj for 2024 is expected to take place in July, with millions of Muslims from around the world converging on the holy city of Mecca and its surroundings to perform the sacred rites.
